Slipper



Nov. 20, 1945. E. scHwARTz 2,389,554

.Y sLIPPER Filed Feb. 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 55 58 I N V EN TOR.

3P/vas? fawn/Pfc i Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIIPER Ernest Schwartz, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Miriam Schwartz, Bronx, N. Y.

Application February 26, 1945, serial No. 579,730

s claims. (ol. 3ra-2.5)

This invention relatesv to improvements in slippers of the type intended for childrens wear.

Slippers of this type have heretofore been made in a form in which the toe portion is constructed to simulate the appearance of an animal head, more specifically, the head of a bunny or rabbit.

My invention is concerned particularly with an improved form of slipper of the character above mentioned, and it is an object of the invention to provide a slipper of that character wherein the upper is formed of a single piece of material so designed that the bunny-simulating portion of the slipper will constitute an integral part ofthe upper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slipper possessing the feature of construction above briefly described and further characterized by its ability to retain its bunny-simulating shape atits" forward portion without necessity of incorporating any special means to prevent collapse of the bunny head.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slipper of the character mentioned, which can be produced at low cost and with a minimum of labor. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description thereof presented herebelow and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a slipper constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away for purpose of clearer illustration;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the slipper;

Figs. 3 and' 4 are transverse cross-sectional views taken respectively along lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1', looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing thev inner side of a blank constituting the upper of the slipper;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one end of the blank, showing certain preliminary steps in the formation of the bunny head portion of the slipper according to the invention; and

Fig. '7 is a view, in top plan, of the sole portion of the slipper.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the slipper embodying my invention is composed essentially of two parts, namely, the upper, designated generally by the numeral I0, and the sole, designated by the numeral II.

In accordance with one important feature of the invention, the upper I0 is made from a onepiece blank I2, composed of suitable material,

Fig. 5. Such a blank may readily be stamped out from a parent sheet of material such as sheepskin, by means of a stamping die having the die knives thereof suitably positioned for the purpose.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the blank I2 comprises an elongated piece of the selected material, conv figured in symmetrical outline with reference to desirably sheepskin, vconfigured as illustrated in a transverse median line therethrough. Or, in another manner of speaking, the portion of the blank lying on one side of such a transverse line may be said to constitute a mirror-image of the portion thereof lying on the opposite side of such line.

Thus, the blank has a bottom edge I3 which extends along a slight curve from the mid-point thereof, marked as by a notch I4, toward the opposite ends thereof to the points marked as bynotches I5, from the latter of which the edge I3 pursues a more abrupt curve, as indicated at I6, to the terminal points I8 where it joins end edges 20. These end edges 20 are each also formed-slightly arcuate and intersect the edge I3 at substantially, or slightly less than, a angle. The other end 2l of each of the edges 29 lies at points along a line located above the edge I3 approximately two-thirds the width of the blank at its transverse median line.

Connecting with each of the end edges 2li, at points ZI, are outwardly extending edges 23, these latter intersecting the respective edges 20 at an angle of approximately 90 to a tangent of edges 20 at points 2I.

From the outer ends 24 of each of the edges 23,

. the blank is formed'with upwardly and inwardlyl directed curvilinear edges 26 terminating at points 2'I, from whence there extend, again inwardly and upwardly, slightly curved edge portions 29 which join at 30 with downwardly and inwardly extending edges which are curved as indicated at 32, 33.

A substantially straight horizontal edge 34 extending between the edge portions 33 forms the top edge of the body portion of the blank. The edge 34 is disconnected from the edge portions 33 by means of slits 36 extending into the body portion of the blank along arcuate lines constituting prolongations of the edge portions 33.

Each of the extensions constituted or outlined at each end of the blank by the edges 29, 32 and 33 are provided with slits 38 extending downwardly from the juncture of edges 32 and 33 along arcuate paths as shown, approximately parallel to the edges 29. The slits 38 are also preferably of approximately the same length as the edges 29 and posed edges 20, 23, 26. and 29.

approximately equal in length to the combined length of each of the respective edges 33 and slits 36. There are thus provided, at these portions of the blank, flaps 40 for a purpose which will hereinafter more fully appear.

As will be apparent, the slits 35, 38 may be formed simultaneously with the operation of diecutting the blank from a sheet of parent material, by suitably positioning slitting knives in the die. likewise, the die may be provided withsuitable punches to form holes 42 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained, and with suitable punches or other devices for forming the abovementioned notches i4, l5 as well as holes orA 34 is folded over inwardly the full extent per-` mitted by the length of the slits 36 and the folded portion is secured in place by blind stitching the edge 34 to the inside of the body portion of the blank as indicated at 46.

The flaps 40 are also folded inwardly and secured in place near their ends, preferably by small rivets or eyelets, as indicated at 48, passing through the pre-punched holes 42.

As will now be evident, the pointed extensions ,between each of the folded down flaps 40 and the adjacent edges 33 constitute the ears of a simulated bunny head, vwhile the edges 2Q, 23, 24 and 26 provide an outline atveach end of the blank which, in profile, simulates the head, nose and mouth of the bunny. Further verisimilitude to a bunny head may be achieved'by securing buttons 50 at suitable places on the head-simulating portions. These buttons are preferably of the clinch-fastening type as illustrated in Fig. 3, and of a color contrasting with that of the exterior surface of the slipper. They are best positioned a short distance from and about midway the length of each of the edges 26. In this manner, the eyes of the bunny may be quite realistically simulated, accurateV positioning of the buttons 53 for that purpose being ensured by the above-mentioned pre-punched holes or other indicia 44.

The upper of the slipper may now be completed from the blank as thus formed and prepared, by folding it transversely upon itself and sewing together, as indicated at 55, the juxta- This sewing is preferably done with the upper turned inside out, and with anoverseam chain stitch;.so"that the seam will not be readily discernible to the eyei when the sewed upper is turned right side out and the front of the slipper viewedv from a reasonable distance.

A particularly noteworthy feature of the invention resides in the fact that when flapsl 40 are secured in their infolded position as described and seamed along their meeting edges 29, they serve to prevent lateral spreading of thesides of the upper and to enable the slipper snugly to t the foot of the wearer.

The completed upper of the slipper may now be combined with a sole of any suitable material. Desirably, this also may comprise a piece of sheepskin. The sole Il, after being cut or stamped in appropriate size from a parent sheet of the selected material, may be united with the upper `Ill bystitching the bottom edge of the previously completed upper to the edge of the sole, as indicated at 58. For this stitching, there is preferably employed an overseam chain stitch and thread of a color which contrasts with that of the outer surface of the sole, as well as with that of the sheepskin or other material employed for the upper, thereby imparting to the slipper lan additional attractive feature which may be taken advantage of also for educational or instructive purposes.

It will thus be seen from the above detailed description that the invention provides a slipper of the general type set forth, which may beeconomically manufactured by combining a sole with a one-piece upper embodying all the elements essential tosirnulationy of a bunny head `at its front portion; and that the slipper so constructed is attractive in appearance, comfortable to the wearer, capable of snugly fitting the foot of the wearer, and further characterized byvsuiicient firmness in the simulated bunny headV to retain the shape of the latter throughout the normal period of usage of the slipper.

Although butone embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scopev of the invention as defined in the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention: l

vl. A slipper of the character-set forth, comprising an upper and a sole stitched to the bottom edge thereof, said upper being formed of a single piece of flexible material with the opposite ends thereof secured in juxtaposed position at the-front of the slipper, one of said ends having: an outline which is a mirror image of the outline of the other of said ends, each of said outlines including elements which, in said juxtaposed positionin which the corresponding elements thereof are secured, cooperate to simulate the head, ears and nose of a bunny at the front of the slipper.

2. A slipper as dened in claim l, further characterlzed by having flaps formed atY the rear of the simulated head, said naps being folded into and `secured to the interior of said upper.

3. A slipper as defined in claim 1,'further characterized by having flaps formed as prolongations of the simulated head at the inner' endV thereof, said flaps extending intothe interior of said upper and being secured to one another at ytheir juxtaposed edges and to the interior of the'slipper adjacent their free ends. 

